Mythbusting Catnip
health, tipsOsito can see the catnip before I remove the cap from its jar. Even at 16, his yellow eyes dilate with anticipation.
He wastes no time snarfing up the finely ground leaves, sniffing and licking them before flinging himself onto his side and rolling what catnip is left ontohis long black fur. He scrubs his face with his front paws, grooms his chest and belly like it’s his job, and sprawls out with a look of total satisfaction on his face.
By catnip euphoria standards, Osito’s reaction is pretty tame (he is 16, after all). In some kitties, the Nepeta cataria plant triggers high-speed zoomies, playful pouncing, and full-on conversations in yowling form. It’s entertaining, to be sure, but is catnip safe for cats?
We dug into the facts to learn what exactly catnip does to our feline friends, and to bust some of the most common myths about this potent plant.
Myth 1: Catnip is a drug.
Catnip isn’t a drug, but for cats like Osito, it can trigger a joyful reaction that makes it seem like one. That’s the work of a chemical compound called nepetalactone, which is found naturally inside Nepeta cataria and some other plant species. When a cat inhales catnip, the nepetalactone triggers cells in the upper airway to release happy-making endorphins.
But while catnip causes mild euphoria, it has none of the negative side effects associated with drugs that do the same thing. Catnip, for one, is not addictive. Even with frequent exposure, cats don’t experience symptoms of withdrawal when the nip is gone. And there is no such thing as a catnip overdose. Even if a cat ingests a large amount over a short period of time, the worst that’s likely to happen is vomiting and diarrhea—though these symptoms are rare and resolve as the catnip passes through the intestines and into the litter box.
- Is there such a thing as too much catnip?
No. Unlike addictive drugs, cats are affected the same way regardless of the dose of catnip they receive. Their happy feelings aren’t any more intense with a big pinch of dried leaves than a small one. With any amount of nip, the euphoric effects begin a few seconds after exposure, and wear off within 10 to 15 minutes. Just remember that once the endorphins have been triggered, they won’t be ready to launch again for an hour or two. Any nip your kitty encounters during that window isn’t likely to have any effect at all.
Myth 2: All cats love catnip.
While many feline species are uniquely affected by catnip—even big guys like leopards, jaguars, and lions—not all individuals are affected the same way. It all boils down to age and genetics. Almost 70% of cats carry the catnip-sensitive gene. To the other 30%, catnip is just like any other boring plant.
Even if they carry the gene, kittens won’t respond to catnip, either. Little ones under three months of age may even avoid the plant altogether. But as they grow, so does their interest in nip. If your cat has the catnip gene, they should begin to experience the plant’s trademark euphoria around six months of age.
Some senior cats may also show less interest in catnip than they did in their younger days, or their response to it may not be as ridiculous as it once was.
- If your cat isn’t interested in catnip, try Silver Vine instead.
Silver Vine, Actinidia polygama, is a medicinal plant that contains nepetalactol, the same chemical compound found in catnip. But in Silver Vine, nepetalactol is just one of six active ingredients that safely stimulate a cat’s senses. Around 80% of cats react to Silver Vine, compared to the 68% affected by catnip (according to a 2017 study), including about 75% of those who don’t react at all to traditional catnip.
Myth 3: Catnip causes aggression.
Every cat responds a little differently to catnip. Some, like my old man Osito, like to cover themselves in it and groom away. Others will tear around the house or play with whatever gets in their way.
But while catnip does not cause aggression, it can send cats with rough-housing tendencies a little over the top. If you have a naturally rambunctious kitty, prevent them from turning their catnip-induced energy on family members by putting a variety of toys in their path and sending little ones (and other pets) out of the room until the reaction wears off 10 to 15 minutes later.
Tips and Best Practices: How to use catnip
Catnip comes in a variety of forms, including dried herbs, sprays, roll-ons, powders, and chew sticks. All varieties should stimulate your kitty similarly, but they may show a preference for—or a stronger reaction to—one style or another.
Many cat toys also contain catnip as a way of encouraging play. However, since cats don’t come into direct contact with the plant when it’s in a toy, they trigger less of a reaction.
To get the most out of catnip (and/or Silver Vine), try sprinkling, spraying, or rolling it:
- On scratching posts or scratch pads;
- On toys that do not contain catnip;
- On cat furniture like ramps, perches, and wall shelves;
- In new environments or places in the home that they are anxious about;
- In a cat carrier before traveling.
Catnip is a safe, non-addictive way to give your cat an extra boost of joy and excitement. There’s no need to worry about them building up a tolerance to its effects over time. If your fuzzy one has the catnip gene, their reaction will be similar whether they have a lot or a little, frequently or infrequently. No matter what, the effects of the nip will never last longer than 15 minutes.
Although not all cats are stimulated by catnip, many of those who don’t have the catnip gene can feel the same kind of mild euphoria with Silver Vine, a plant with some of the same active ingredients as catnip. Silver Vine is sold in all the same forms as catnip, including pre-loaded into cat toys.
We hope our myth-busting efforts provided you all the information you needed to know our feline friends’ favorite plant. For more advice and tips to keep your kitty happy and healthy, check out the other articles in our blog, Small Talk.